ALBUM REVIEWS

RECENT ALBUM REVIEWS

  • EMERALD SUN – Under the Curse of Silence

    The Greek power metallers collectively known as Emerald Sun are definitely marking their 20th anniversary in style by means of this excellent 12-track onslaught of theirs. In many ways, the band sound like a cross between Judas Priest, Accept, and Iron Maiden, which is to say that there is an overload of meaty and bombastic…

  • SHEZOO – Agony of Doubt

    The hard-hitting Swiss/Dutch ensemble known as Shezoo released this 10-track album of theirs just a few months ago and it is most definitely a welcome addition to the European power metal/hard rock canon. Inspired by legendary acts such as Dio, Accept, Judas Priest, and Led Zeppelin, this cool quartet turned out to be a nice…

  • MEKA NISM – The War Inside

    Meka Nism is reported by the promoters as a cross between Arch Enemy (growling, death-LIKE riffing) and Lacuna Coil (cleans and rocking melodies) and I must say the description is spot on, though I hear some metalcore leaning in the breakdown-like structure of the main riffs as well as in some melodies. The band used…

  • THUNDER – Stage

    This nicely packaged 2CD/DVD live package combo by British rockers Thunder shows that these guys are still firing on all cylinders and most capable of delivering a kick-ass show that other bands can only dream of doing. With a set list that encompasses and covers pretty much the entire career and discography of the band,…

  • GRIFT – Vilsna Andars Boning

    This two-track EP by the magical and mysterious Swedish entity known as Grift is an evocative and highly atmospheric release that is as moving as it is haunting. Gärdefors’ strong, booming voice reeks of passion while the acoustic guitars both vibrate and resonate with depth and meaning.   There is an emotional intensity to this…

  • BLOODHUNTER – The End Of Faith

    Of the influence of the late Chuck Schuldiner (Death, Control Denied) on modern death, thrash and metalcore one could write yarns about (can you tell I have been enjoying my HP Lovecraft, lately?). This is regarding not just the music but the vocalizations as well. One of the examples of both is the Spanish trio…

  • PERFECT PLAN – All Rise

    Perfect Plan hail from Sweden and are a relatively new outfit on the melodic hard rock scene in the sense that the band was launched only a few years ago, more specifically in 2014. There are plenty of glorious hooks and magnificent riffs on this 11-track debut offering of theirs and it walks that fine…

  • PLENTY – It Could Be Home

    This 10-track record entitled "It Could be Home" by the British ensemble known as Plenty is an interesting one. The record has actually been in the making for a few decades and Plenty itself was formed all the way back in 1986 by Tim Bowness (No-man). It basically evolved out of the Liverpudlian post-punk experimentalists…

  • COLOSSEUM II – War Dance (Remastered Edition)

    Colosseum II featuring the legendary Gary Moore (guitars and vocals), Jon Hiseman (drums), John Mole (bass), and Don Airey (keyboards) is one of those highly esteemed and yet strangely overlooked outfits that deserved (and still deserve) a larger audience.   People and critics recognized the immense talent that was on display, but the records just…

  • CARPATHIAN FOREST – Likeim – EP

    It has been a while since the Norwegian sickos known as Carpathian Forest have crossed my path, but things are obviously afoot in their foul and blackened camp as evidenced by this 2-track EP entitled “Likeim”, which acts as a precursor to their upcoming full-length assault. The title track is the main draw of this…

  • KIM WILDE – Here Come the Aliens

    The living legend that is Kim Wilde is back with a vengeance in the shape of this fist-pumping and highly addictive 12-track output entitled "Here Come the Aliens". Housed in a brilliant-looking sleeve reminiscent of those charming and classic 50s sci-fi movies that we all love, this 2018 record shows that Wilde is still a…

  • WILDNITE – Wildnite

    The Norwegian glam rockers known as Wildnite are an interesting bunch of highly skilled and talented young dudes who are all about blowing your wrinkled ass to kingdom come with their infectious and irresistible songs filled with huge choruses, fist-pumping riffs, and great melodic hooks. "Wildnite" presents us with nothing new or original, but that…

  • RICK PARFITT – Over and Out

    The sadly missed Rick Parfitt (Status Quo) never got to see or experience the release of this superb solo debut of his entitled "Over and Out", but let it be known that this 10-track effort is a gem and a highly rewarding listening experience. There is a haunting and melancholy quality to tracks like "Lonesome…

  • RITCHIE BLACKMORE’S RAINBOW – Memories in Rock II

    Legendary guitarist Ritchie Blackmore needs no introduction and you all damn well know that without him and Deep Purple this very website that you are currently glancing at might not ever have existed. Following his inspired and inspiring tenure with Purple, he launched his own solo outfit in 1975 and named it Ritchie Blackmore’s Rainbow…

  • DUSK OF DELLUSION – (F)unfair

    The French ensemble named Dusk of Delusion recently released this 12-track record of theirs and although all the promotional information that came with the CD suggests that we are dealing with a nu-metal band, it sounds way more like melodic metalcore to yours truly. But let us just agree to call it a mixture of…

  • MATTHEW WORLEY – No Future: Punk, Politics and British Youth Culture, 1976-1984

    This incredibly well-researched and thought-provoking book on British punk rock and its cultural impact is an exhaustive study of how the aforementioned genre came into being, what sparked it, how it tied in with British society and politics as a whole, and why it eventually disappeared somewhat on the radar of both popular and underground…

  • FM – Atomic Generation

    British rockers FM are enjoying something of a renaissance and have been on an upward spiral, creatively speaking, ever since they reunited back in 2007. The 2015 output entitled "Heroes and Villains" was a solid and well-written piece of work while this brand new 2018 offering of theirs is basically more of the same, delivered…

  • JEFF EVANS – Rock & Pop on British TV

    This charming 336-page exploration of rock and pop music on British TV throughout the past seven decades by author Jeff Evans is an interesting and enlightening discourse on how two different entities were linked and how they have worked in tandem ever since the 1950s. Countless different TV shows that have either incorporated or focused…

  • HEIMSGARD – Following the Starlight

    Even though the name of the band may evoke a certain Nordic or Scandinavian aura, Heimsgard is indeed a French outfit who released its debut album back in 2015. Mastermind Raido and his cohorts perform epic pagan black metal with a strong emphasis on sweeping melodies, grandiose atmospheres, fantasy-like vibes, and melancholy. The thirteen compositions…

  • L.A. GUNS – Made in Milan

    On the back of last year’s excellent “The Missing Peace” album, it should come as no surprise that the hard-hitting sleaze rockers L.A. Guns were eager to hit the road and tour the album. This 14-track live album/DVD was captured on tape in Milan, Italy, and features both the classic cuts and the soon-to-be anthems…

  • JORDSJØ – Jord

    Jordsjø is a Norwegian duo consisting of the talented dudes that are Håkon Oftung (Black Magic, Tusmørke) and Kristian Frøland. Folowing a string of demo releases, these guys decided to craft a full-length album consisting of 7 interesting tunes that are a warm, lively, and vibrant mixture of 70s prog rock with lots of flute…

  • (book review) RICHARD WHITE – Come Together – Lennon & McCartney in the Seventies

    Richard White’s book on the somewhat mythologized and strangely compelling relationship between the Beatles legends that are John Lennon and Paul McCartney is an interesting albeit uneven affair. The great thing about this 308-page book is that it offers a fascinating insight into the two men’s internal relationship and creative bond during the aforementioned decade…

  • ENEMYNSIDE – Dead Nation Army

    The Italian thrash metallers known as Enemynside recently unearthed this hard-hitting and punchy 4-track EP of theirs entitled "Dead Nation Army". Now, let it be known that there is absolutely nothing original, different, or revolutionary to what these fuckers do; there are plenty of similar and nearly identical bands out there doing the exact same…

  • MICHAEL SCHENKER FEST – Resurrection

    Ever since last year’s release of the excellent Michael Schenker Fest ”Live” DVD/CD featuring the three divine vocalists that are Robin McAuley, Graham Bonnet, and Gary Barden along with the hugely talented Ted McKenna (drums), Steve Mann (guitar and keyboards), and Chris Glen (bass), I have eagerly hoped for and anticipated a brand new studio…

  • DOBBELTGJENGER – Limbo Head

    The highly eccentric and eclectic musical ensemble that is Dobbeltgjenger, which hails from Bergen, Norway, is a rather interesting and different musical encounter in all sorts of different ways. This strangely captivating record of theirs entitled "Limbo Head" brings to mind such original and innovative acts as King Crimson, Faith No More, Syd Barrett, Joy…

  • DUKES OF THE ORIENT – Dukes of the Orient

    The origins of this interesting new band consisting of John Payne (ex-ASIA) and Erik Norlander (Last in Line, Lana Lane) go back to the re-structuring of the legendary ASIA in 2006 when the original line-up consisting of Geoff Downes, Carl Palmer, Steve Howe, and John Wetton reunited, which basically sidelined Payne and excluded him and…

  • JANNE JARVIS – Nightline

    Former Warrior Soul bassist Janne Jarvis quite recently unleashed this 7-track album of his entitled "Nightline" upon the unsuspecting masses and I must say that this is not without its merits or moments. Stylistically and musically, "Nightline" blends alternative rock with electro rock. On top of that, different traits and elements from industrial metal and…

  • HEAVATAR – Opus II – The Annihilation

    The German power metallers bearing the name Heavatar released their sophomore album about a week ago and rather appropriately named it "Opus II – The Annihilation". The name of the game is a bombastic variant of power metal with quite a few speed/thrash metal influences to it. Such diverse acts as Manowar, Metallica, Judas Priest,…

  • MARTIN TURNER Ex WISHBONE ASH – Argus Through the Looking Glass

    Back in 2008, former Wishbone Ash bassist/vocalist Martin Turner came up with the idea of re-recording the immortal "Argus" record with his then current band consisting of Ray Hatfield, Keith Buck, Rob Hewins, and Danny Willson. The legendary John Wetton (Asia, Uriah Heep, Wishbone Ash) and Yes keyboardist Geoff Downes also make an appearance on…

  • MARILLION – Misplaced Childhood (2017 Remaster)

    The near-flawless 1985 opus entitled "Misplaced Childhood" by the British prog rock stalwarts Marillion is without a shadow of doubt one of those great records that is both timeless and eternally relevant. This 2017 remaster brings all those breathtaking compositions and their sublime atmospheres to life again and the album has lost none of its…